Their headline boys and girls, not mine. Is anyone surprised that only 6 percent of black people and 4 percent of black people think Sharpton and Jackson speak for them? I guess I'm surprised more said Sharpton than Jackson. But yeah, this is stupid. I reject the idea that anyone can speak for black people. And I reject the implicit idea that white people are so stupid as to need an anointed translater to understand South Central. The only people in need of a "black spokesman" are lazy-ass reporters who can't afford to lose any shoe-leather. Sorry, I guess this is bash the press week. Eff it. It's always underestimate black people week in the press.
UPDATE: Following on Zach's nomination for "black spokesman," we will be taking names. Zach says John MacLaughlin. I think Pat Buchanan best speaks to the dreams and aspirations of black people. Can I hear a second? Who else could translate Ebonics for us? We are so mysterious, you know...
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
I nominate John McLaughlin.
Ooh, ooh, Mr. Kotter, Mr. Kotter...
Can I be the spokesman? Can I? Can I?
Sincerely,
A. Horshack
"Who else could translate Ebonics for us?"
Dammit, America needs Big L now more than ever!
What about Ta-Nehisi? Only one point behind Tavis Smiley!
Who else but Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson?!?! His insights and compassion for blacks is truly inspirational. Wait. We are still being sarcastic, right?
http://mediamatters.org/items/200510030005?f=s_search
http://mediamatters.org/items/200709270016?f=s_search
Harvey Dent as played by Billy Dee Williams
Jake H's response is sorely underappreciated.
Given the fact that black people already have so many spokespeople (Farrakhan AND Buchanan--an embarrassment of riches if you ask me!), why don't you turn the tables and nominate a spokesperson for the aspirations white people?
I nominate R Kelly: he gets to use derogatory language with impunity, is simultaneously functionally illiterate and filthy rich, and pisses on women.
BTW, the Daily Show interview on Monday with that Civil War historian is tangentially relevant to this running discussion on the multiplicity of black voices. Might be worth a link and a post and his book looked worthwhile: Andrew Ward, "The Slaves' War".
I vote for Bill O! ...WE'LL DO IT LIVE!
Geraldine Ferraro.
Who did they survey?
Bill and Hillary before Oprah?
Maybe Gallup needs to get a new polling audience.
I vote for Billy Dee Williams as Billy Dee Williams. He was in the Original Star Wars! He repped the Bull. He's got cred all over the place.
Bill-O even has experience dining in Harlem, once. If that's not street cred, I don't know what is.
Morgan Freeman. White people LOVE him.
101% totals just oozes editorial incompetency.
I really want to phone up Gallup so they can tell me who my White Spokesman is. I presume that we have one, yes? I mean, it kinda figures that the black folks can't get it together enough to nominate a single spokesman for their entire race -- but surely us ordinary people are more organised than them! And the Asians -- they're *super*-organised! They *must* have a spokesman, for sure!
(Christ, the media makes me f***ing sick sometimes...)
You know the poll/list is full of sh*t when Hillary Clinton is on the list.
Gone are the days when Condoleezza Rice was seen as one of the "most important black leaders" by 11% of the Black people sample way back in 2006. And the recent "hot mic" thing with Jesse really caused him to take a hit.
http://corp.aol.com/press-releases/2006/02/ap-aol-black-voices-poll-finds-african-american-community-deeply-divided-lead
And I'm really looking for the joke because, as of late, Obama has been functioning as White folks spokesperson on race. Gone are the days of the passionate cautioning of the "quiet riots" that go on every day... Gone are the days when Obama talked about the EMPATHY DEFICIT.
Warren G. Harding, duh.
Phil Gramm could use a spokesman job after McCain said Gramm doesn't speak for him anymore.
How about Dennis Haysbert? I'm sure he'd take the job if you pay him more than Allstate does.
The beauty is that any random black person can serve as spokesman. I'm white, and many white friends over the years have explained to me - quite earnestly - that black people hold such-and-such an opinion based on the fact that some black person they talked to had that opinion. The source could have been a colleague, their plumber, the woman sitting next to them on the plane, doesn't matter. Since all black people share any and all opinions, the spokesman can be anyone.
Definitely Will Smith. When one brings up racial disparities in Hollywood white people love to point to Mr. Smith. Plus, he's really really good looking.
Nas had nominated David Banner and Young Jeezy.